Arkansas Razorbacks

Arkansas Razorbacks

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NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah is "anxious" to see Arkansas DT Darius Philon at the Combine.

"He's an effective interior pass rusher with quick hands/feet. Plays with good leverage too," Jeremiah tweeted. Arkansas listed Philon as 6'2/272 lbs, which is not the conventional size of an every down defensive tackle. However, rotations along the defensive fronts are becoming more and more important. If Philon can disrupt, and test like an athlete for the position, he could produce early.

Arkansas edge player Trey Flowers is "a pure power rusher," according to NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah.

Flowers is "not very loose but plays with leverage and power at point of attack," per Jeremiah. The question is if Flowers the necessary traits to convert speed to power. Few edge players win with just power, as they have to threat with upfield quickness in order to force their opposition to respect edge moves. Flowers is likely more limited than other rushers in this class.

Bielema is now signed through December of 2020, with his new deal averaging $4.25 million over six years. Bielema turned down the Nebraska job in December, perhaps having been given assurance that an extension was coming. "Coach Bret Bielema is not only one of the best college football coaches in the nation, he is an outstanding leader," athletic director Jeff Long said in a statement. "What Coach Bielema and his coaching staff have done for our young men, on and off the field, is something that has dramatically changed the course of our program and most importantly positively impacted the lives of our football student-athletes."

Kiper didn't explain Philon's jump, though the analyst did have a few extra slots to work with after Adolphus Washington (Ohio State) and Jarran Reed (Alabama) each decided to return to campus for another year. Philon, a redshirt sophomore, surprisingly declared for the draft early. He's undersized at 6-foot-2, 272 pounds, but Philon is plenty disruptive.

Mitchel, who will play in Saturday's College Gridiron Showcase, suffered through a hamstring injury earlier this season and missed the first two games of the season. He also tore his labrum last spring. Mitchel's career has been up and down. He was a Freshman All-SEC performer in 2011, played well enough in 2012 that he was considered one of the SEC's top corners heading into last year, and then face planted and was benched mid-season by Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema. He played far better as a senior (two interceptions and eight pass breakups). The 6-foot, 190-pounder collected four interceptions, 18 pass breakups and six tackles for loss across 43 career games.

Arkansas senior LB Martrell Spaight "flashed with his agility and terrific closing speed, making several eye-popping hits" in the Senior Bowl, wrote CBS Sports' Rob Rang.

Denzel Perryman suffered an abdominal strain during the week, so scouts got a longer look at Spaight than they otherwise might have. Spaight burst into the spotlight this year after spending two seasons at the JUCO level, and one on a struggling Arkansas team in 2013. He is a thumper hoping to have proven to scouts he's cleaned up the technical aspects of his craft.

It was a nice showing by a player who, through poor health and an offensive system not suited to his talents, caught only 26 balls total during his three-year career at Arkansas. The 6-foot-3 receiver missed the 2013 season after tearing an ACL in summer practices. Wilson hopes to get drafted near the end of Day 3.

Arkansas senior OL Brey Cook will play in Saturday's Medal of Honor Bowl.

Cook led a massive Razorbacks' offensive line that averaged 326 pounds per player this season. Cook, a highly-ranked Arkansas native who decided to stay home during his recruitment, has played all over the offensive line for the Razorbacks the past few years. The 6-foot-7, 322-pounder has the body of a tackle, but the game of a guard. "Cook's size and strength enables him to move defenders in the running game," CBS Sports' Rob Rang wrote over the summer. "He possesses adequate initial quickness and leverage to drive opponents backward and shows some savvy, incorporating cut blocks and angles to seal defenders from the action. Cook isn't always pretty in pass protection, lumbering a bit in his kick-slide when protecting the edge at tackle but he is effective, showing enough balance and power to latch and control opponents and very good awareness to switch off on combo blocks or to recognize blitzes."

Wilson missed the 2013 season after tearing an ACL in summer practices. He played in 12 games in 2012, catching nine passes for 117 yards and one touchdown. The 6-foot-3 receiver has NFL size, and arguably pro talent, but caught only 26 balls total during his three-year career at Arkansas. Wilson was a two-time all-conference pick at Glendale Community College prior to his arrival.

Arkansas senior CB Tevin Mitchel will play in Saturday's Medal of Honor Bowl.

Mitchel's career has been up and down. He was a Freshman All-SEC performer in 2011, played well enough in 2012 that he was considered one of the SEC's top corners heading into last year, and then face planted and was benched mid-season by Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema. The 6-foot, 190-pounder then took a developmental step forward this year and played a key role in the Hogs' strong defense. Perhaps he can prove to evaluators that brighter days are ahead.

Philon is undersized at 6-foot-2, 272 pounds, but boy is he disruptive. The third-year sophomore would benefit from returning to school for another year in order to add bulk, but perhaps he wants to capitalize on a productive season. Philon filed paperwork with the NFL Advisory Board, though we haven't yet heard what grade he received. Philon said previously he would announce his decision after Arkansas played Texas in Monday's Texas Bowl.

ESPN's Todd McShay writes that Arkansas DE Trey Flowers has "good quickness and power" with "long arms and violent hands."

"He's always around the ball, and although he isn't an elite pass-rusher, he's stout versus the run and has the versatility to be an every-down D-lineman in the NFL," McShay wrote. "He has a second-round grade." Flowers accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl last month. The 6-foot-4, 262-pounder's rush game is predicated on power, not agility. He's a disruptive college end who has showed well against future NFL prospects, including Texas A&M's Germain Ifedi.

The 6-foot-2, 234-pound Mitchell turned into a reliable run-stuffing presence in 2014 after struggling to diagnose plays previously. "Mitchell is light on his feet and changes directions fluidly but too often is a step slow in recognizing the play and is more of a tentative grab and drag tackler rather than a heat-seeking missile," CBS Sports' Rob Rang wrote over the summer. Scouts figure to be attracted to Mitchell's athletic gifts.

Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema noted that junior RB Jonathan Williams has decided to return for his senior season.

The Arkansas prospect had recently filed for feedback from the Draft Advisory Board and was believed to make the jump to the next level, if he had received a good grade. Williams rushed for 1,085 yards and 11 touchdowns this season on 188 carries, good for 5.8 yards per carry. The 6-foot, 223-pounder helped Arkansas rebound from a 3-9 record last season, to helping the Razorbacks reach their first bowl game in three years.

Arkansas senior LB Martrell Spaight is one of the SEC prospects with most to prove to NFL scouts in his bowl game, notes NFL.com.

Spaight is an ultra-productive defensive leader who has collected 123 tackles -- 55 more than any other Razorbacks' player -- 8.5 tackles for loss and an interception in 2014. "Before the season began, Spaight wasn't on the prospect radar," wrote Chase Goodbread. "And why would he be? He spent two years in junior college and did little to distinguish himself on a terrible Arkansas team as a junior in 2013. But 123 tackles and a Senior Bowl invitation later, he might be the biggest reason an NFL scout would want to watch the Razorbacks in this game. He has the requisite NFL size at 6-3, 230 pounds, and brings a level of passion to the position that scouts love. A big game against Texas would help solidify his reputation as a draft riser." Spaight is a thumper who must show scouts he's cleaned up the technical aspects of his craft. Arkansas plays in the Texas Bowl against Texas on Dec. 29.